If game is ready, why not sell it?

TECH SUPPORT - CONTROL FREAK

August 18, 2007|By Jeff Rubenstein, Sentinel Staff Writer

If a video game is complete and ready to go, shouldn't gamers be able to play it? The whole idea of "street dates" was thrown into disarray last Tuesday, as certain stores began selling the highly anticipated game Bioshock a week early. The news quickly spread via Digg.

Phone calls to local Toys R Us outlets revealed that some sold all of their copies. Others refused, and all were sick of answering questions from excited gamers.

Publisher 2K Games quickly clamped down on the rogue stores, and said the game would not be sold before Aug. 21. But if Bioshock is sitting in stores, and people want to buy it, why not sell it to them?